Thank you for being a Musie

I have so many reasons to be thankful this year... my health is improving, ideas flowing, business growing... But most of all, I am so grateful to my friends, family, clients, and FB fans (Musies) for your continued support.  Without your encouraging comments, creative feedback and boisterous voters, where would I be?  So this song is for you (to be sung to "Thank you for being a Friend" by Andrew Gold.

Thank You For Being A Musie

Thank you for being a Musie
Every comment you make, I love more than a tootsie

Your heart is sweet and you’re marvelous

I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
Throw on your scarf, and won't you take a bow

And if you shopped on Etsy
Bought a list of gifts so pretty
You would see, a most tender wrapped gift from me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you from Angel Ray

Thank you for being Musie

:)

Link Love! (switching from Discussion to Forum on FB)

Dear Friends,
As you may know, I love to support my fellow artists and small business owners by giving a place for you to drop all your links on my Facebook Discussion Page.  However lately, FB has removed this option.  Boo :(

Coliseum, Rome - print by bleuherron

However thanks to a handy tip from my Etisan friend,  Carrie of BagalioPaintings I've discovered the new Forum APP which can be used in the same way.

Here is the Link to click on where you can share all your business links on my Face book Business Fan page (which is now at 4,000 Musies and growing!):
http://tinyurl.com/cn7lkfu

Crowd - painting by SydnorWorks

If you would like to set up the Forum APP on your own page, here is the Link:
http://tinyurl.com/cn7lkfu

So come on over, join the Musies and keep spreading the Link Love!  Thank you for you support, and also for supporting other small business with handmade products.  :)

Neutrals with Gold - Etsy Style

Happy Fall to you!  Are you looking for ways to wear your colorful scarves without looking like a clown?  You don't always have to match the same scarf color to your blouse to keep it chic.  Today I have put together some great Etsy finds to create the perfect Fall outfit.  Inspired by this styled shot from the luxury site Netaporter, with its warm neutrals, cool blacks, and splashes of gold.  

This is a great way to wear a colorful scarf against complimentary solids and never look overdone.  Here are my favorite Etsy Finds together that you can create a similar look with!

 

1. Butterscotch Dream - hand painted silk scarf in yellows, golds, and browns by MuseSilkPaintings
2. Brass Ring Band - ultra chic, modern and simple  - by OneWorldTwoHands
3. Gladiator Cuff - 18K gold, strong, bold, and beautiful - by OSShop
4. Vintage fawn dotted silk blouse - neutral with tiny, feminine dot print by Silviawan
5. Vintage wool brown blazer - a great Fall piece over jeans, slacks, or a skirt by Nemres
6. Black Wool Shorts by YYStudio - alone or paired with sweater tights, these are fantastic
7. Leather Handbag Tote - with beautiful texture, (I'm drooling) by Dejou
8. Black leather pumps with gold beads - how hot are these!? by MyGmasCloset

All these pieces are so fantastic on their own and super versatile.  I can see those shoes with a red dress, or the blouse over a white skirt, or jeans even.  This is just one way to wear it all.  Because there are so many other great pieces on Etsy that you can mix and match to create this look, I also created a Treasury with more items to create this similar look as well.  Click HERE to Enjoy!

4,000 Musies!!!

Hello Friends, Family, and of course, Musies all over the world.  If you have not heard already, I just wanted to share the amazing news that because of you and your wonderful support, the Muse Silk Paintings Facebook Page has just passed 4,000 fans (a.k.a. Musies)!!!!

I am so excited that I decided to create a video to document this incredible milestone, and find out who the winners are of the Musie 4,000 Giveaway.  Thank you to everyone who shared my page, for every comment, "like", message and positive thoughts that you have thrown my way.  I cannot tell you enough what it means to me to have found my ultimate passion in silk painting, and more importantly this venue to share it with you.  A million times over, thank you so much!!!

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhPYJBVpqng

~A.R

Tribal Soul Collection - Fall/Winter 2011

This season I was inspired by not only the fire and ice themes of the Runway, but by the dream of Africa, from the icy, snow-capped summit of Kilamanjaro to the stretching plains of the Serengeti. 

There is something so alluring and primal about the land: watercolor skies of amber gold and fiery orange or cobalt blue, as well as the wild beauty that is the zebra just visible in the shadows, or the rustling from a stealthy leopard on the prowl…  

 The amazing Maasai tribe, with their finely and exquisitely-patterned garments and hand-woven, beaded jewelry, are renowned for their artisanship and were a particular source of inspiration. I just loved the strands of bright necklaces draped over their bodies and their bold use of color—whites, blues and reds representing peace, water and bravery.

This intense energy resonated with me while creating each piece in my latest, luxury scarf collection and challenged me to do more detailed and intricate line work.  I hope this translates into a sense of beauty and strength for the women who will wear each of these new scarves. 

TRIBAL SOUL COLLECTION

Now is the time to invest in a striking, decadent statement piece for Fall from Muse Silk Paintings. 

Click HERE to shop the new Collection today!

Vacation in Muse Land

Dear Friends,
As you know I've been working my tail off this year preparing my new studio, moving, and really pushing myself to reach new levels in my artistic expression this year.  And while loving every second, I've been running along at break neck speed, I have come to realize that it just isn't leaving time for the other things in my life that really need my attention.

The Secret Grotto by Foxfires

Starting June 1st, I will be de-activating Etsy shop essentially putting it on vacation, and plan to re-open in August.  My goal is to use this 2 month break to not only create a fresh new collection and finish up custom orders, but also to focus on finding more balance to my very full plate.  My Red Bubble site will still be open.  I will still be active on facebook, however just taking time away from Etsy, and spending more of it on health, home and family.  Thank you for your understanding, and if you had your eye on a certain piece in my store, I suggest you snap it up soon!

Thank you for your support,
A.R.

Do's and Don’ts Part II - Advice from a 2 year old

Two year old Etsy seller that is.  It's my 2 year Etsy-versary!  Hard to believe since it's flown by so quickly.  This blog post is Chapter 2 of my first post last year and is just a tad more brutally honest.  To read Part 1 click here.   I will make an effort to do this every year in hopes you will find this interesting and can learn from my mistakes.

Treasure Trove Necklace by Sora Designs

1. Don’t tell all your secrets. I’ve learned the hard way to not share every little detail of your business, suppliers, marketing techniques, etc.. as what might seem like a good natured question one day can and will become something might come back to haunt you.  

stretched silks in my studio

2. Do share just enough/be selective.  I’ve learned that sharing bits of the creative process of my silk artworks has proven to be quite interesting to others and helps create excitement and a positive buzz about my wearable art scarves.

Grumpy, black faced sheep by Maid of Clay

3. Don’t think you can please everyone.  Some people are just unhappy, period, and nothing you can do or say will be good enough.  One time I spent so much time re-painting a piece for a customer, that I lost an entire 3 days of productivity, not to mention staying up past midnight in the freezing cold (back when my studio was outdoors) in order to make them happy.  It still didn’t work!

At Your Service by FredMorseArt

4. Do work hard and everything in your power to provide excellent customer service without totally overextending yourself.  I would have saved myself a lot of time, energy, and stress had I simply issued a refund in that case and moved on.  However there have been cases when something like an extra rush or extra touch has made all the difference (but it didn't take 3 days). 

The Trail by Painted with Light

5. Don’t blame the world when sales are dry.  It’s not the responsibility of the sun, moon, rain, and/or web site hosting your product to magically bring in traffic and sales just because you put it out there.

Traffic Jam by gckimmitt

6. Do look to yourself to drive traffic and sales to your store.  I’ve noticed a direct impact on my views and marketing efforts when I am highly involved.. with Etsy teams, forums, treasuries, Flickr, blogging, FB, twitter, tagging images correctly.  It’s hard work!  But I just see it as the more you put into something, the more you get out of it.

Kittie Beats by the Barber Shop

7. Don’t ask if you can’t handle the truth!  (lol - I just couldn’t resist the Jack reference).  But really, if you ask for any opinion or critique of your product or shop,  don’t be taken back if someone gives you negative or harsh constructive criticism. After all, you did ask!

"Who Wears it Best? FB Voter

8. Do ask questions that you actually want to hear the answers to.  I ALWAYS love hearing the feedback of the Facebook Musies for example, when pondering color choices of a silk painting and especially love to see which Muse Model will win the “Who Wears it Best” contests.  Do stay open-minded and know that any constructive criticism is usually coming from someone who is genuinely trying to help.

Sad Little One by Irobinson

 9.  Don’t give up.  When the sales are down, a situation goes sour, or you have had it up to here with rude and/or people misbehaving, don’t dwell…  Don’t sink down to the level of immature actions.  You can find negativity and drama anywhere you go, and online too if you want it.  Don’t give in!

Happy Toad by Surly

10. Do be the better person.  Do be kind.  Do focus on your own creativity and work, and improving constantly. The sales will come as your business builds and you continue to rise above and keep moving when there are obstacles in your path.  An energetic and positive spirit is contagious so spread the love!

Cherish is the Word by Pam Utton

Thanks for reading Do's and Don't from a 2 year old, and Thank You to my Friends, Family, Clients, and of course Musies for all your love and support over the past 2 years.  I could not have gotten this far without you!

Updates from Muse Land

Hello Friends,
I just wanted to send a little update before I take a bit of time off.  In case you haven't heard, this year there has been a lot going on in Muse Land. Since moving into this new indoor studio, my capability to create more detailed silk paintings has been finally realized.  I've been as busy as a bee, locked away in my studio trying to get all the patterns and designs out of my head and onto my silks and have been loving every minute of it!  Part one of the good news is that I now have a fully stocked shop of wonderful scarves available with an elevated artistic quality.  You can discover my new pieces in my Etsy store.

 

New Spring/Summer scarves

I have even MORE good news to share which is that I'm finally happy with the available artworks built up on my new Red Bubble site, where you can purchase greeting cards and prints of my art!  Please check out my portfolio/profile here!  

Red Bubble Art Collections

Alas, as my list of custom requests and orders is growing longer and longer, I find that a little mini vacation is needed soon.  To browse the custom orders I've completed in this year alone, please visit my Flickr album.  After Mother's Day, I will be taking a few weeks off in order to rest my arm, dream up Fall inspirations, and tend to some other life areas which have been sorely overlooked for some time now.  For those who know me best, let's just say there is a certain Fruit Bear who has missed me very much :).

Fruit Bear

 As always, I would just like to say Thank You to all my friends, family and clients who continue to support my Muse Silk Paintings business.  You know how much this means to me :)
 

 

Thinking about Momma - a few dates to remember

One of the most thoughtful and unique gifts to the art and fashion lover in your life is a hand painted silk scarf.  It even becomes more special if it has been custom made just for her.  Mother’s Day will be here before you know it (May 8^th), so just sending you a friendly reminder about timing :)

"Shady Bouquet"

Although I do love creating special, custom pieces, please keep in mind that newly designed, custom scarves can be quite time intensive due to the creative process.  Here is a great example of a past custom project which illustrates the process from sketch concept to final scarf HERE. My schedule is filling up quickly right now so I just wanted to post a few dates (for U.S. residents) to remember in case you are considering placing an order and would like to have it in time for Mother’s Day.

silk scarves on frames drying in studio

1. April 3^rd – Custom Request deadline (This is for a completely new design that I have never painted before)  If you would like to see some of the custom scarves I have painted, please visit my Flickr albums HERE and HERE.  To view even more photos of Sold and Custom pieces, please visit my Facebook Fan page and browse the photo albums HERE. 

2.  April 10^th – Recreation Request deadline (This is if you want something quite similar to a piece I have already sold or maybe in a different color)  To browse sold pieces on Etsy click HERE.  

3. April 24^th – Etsy order deadline – please order before this date in order to guarantee on time, U.S. domestic delivery for Mother's Day.  Shop our new Spring/Summer Collection HERE and our new Transitions Collection HERE to see my latest available pieces!

Don't be late like the White Rabbit, or you might not get your scarf in time!  Please contact Angel any time to discuss details for a custom order or timing for International orders at arscarves@hotmail.com

"White Rabbit" (always late for a date)

 Here are a few testimonials from some of my customers who have made their Mom’s and Grandmothers so happy with a Muse scarf!

“Absolutely stunning! My grandmother LOVED her scarf for Mother's Day, MUSE!!!! She was in tears as the gorgeous scarf brought her enormous joy. You never cease to make people happy and feel special; your designs embrace pure BEAUTY~ Thank YOU so much for another wonderful shopping experience at MuseSilkPaintings. I sincerely can't (ever) get or have enough! Your talent is above and beyond and my family and I are so proud to own and wear your scarves with utmost honor.”

“I bought this beautiful scarf for my mom on her birthday, and she loved it. Service was wonderful as well. Seller was very attentive and super sweet; she wrote a card with my message and made the package look lovely. Also, it arrived promptly. Love!”

To read ALL customer feedback from my Etsy store, click HERE. 

gift wrapped scarves ready to ship

When you order a scarf from Muse Silk Paintings, not only do you receive a beautiful, hand painted scarf, but it also comes with complimentary shipping, gift wrapping, an extra gift and a hand written card.  Shop Muse Silk Paintings TODAY and let me help you put a big smile on her face this Mother's Day!

Easy being Green

Can you believe it is March already?  It seems that 2011 is just flying by and here in Southern California it is finally starting to feel like Spring!  A sure way to brighten up your outfit from winter to a fresh, spring look is to throw on a lovely, hand painted, green scarf (not to mention it's always good to be prepared on St. Patrick's Day and Earth Day).

After all, it is such a wonderful color.. and as Kermit the Frog sings:

"But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean, or important
Like a mountain, or tall like a tree"

 

.... or silky and gorgeous like a stunning Muse scarf....

(hmm this last line may have been added by a third party)

 

1. Lillies by the Lake   2. Electric Tide   3. Emerald Lilly Pond   4. Charlie Brown - Mint   5. Meadow Sunrise   6. Earth Lillies   7. Deco Mountains   8. Forest Flurry

Shop all green scarves HERE today 

and let Muse Silk Paintings show you just how easy it is to be green!  

Musie 4,000 Give-away!

Dear Friends and Musies,

I just finished painting these two, gorgeous new scarves!  It took me a while, but I think they turned out beautifully.  The "Mint Rose Garden" melts from mint into emerald green near the edges and the golden and nectarine roses flow along the silk next to warm, olive leaves with metallic shimmering accents.  This is the perfect scarf for spring, or any festive occasion!  To see more photos of this scarf, click HERE.

"Mint Rose Garden" on silk crepe de chine

"Paper Mache Evergreens" on silk crepe de chine

 

And the "Paper Mache Evergreens" with it's super cool, marbled texture look and bold, geometric trees is such a wintery and fun fashion accessory.   The midnight black sky combined with electric greens feels so fresh and exciting - perfect for the holidays!  To see more photos of this scarf, click HERE.

And... despite the wishes of certain people....  I have decided to give them BOTH away... For FREE!  Would you like a chance to win? 

HOW TO WIN:

1. "like" the Muse Silk Paintings facebook fan page HERE

2. "share" our page with your friends that love art and fashion

 3. Leave a comment HERE on THIS BLOG in the comments section that says "SHARED" to be entered to the drawing

4. Once our fan page hits 4,000 fans (a.k.a Musies), I will be picking TWO lucky Musies at random and will send this each winner one of these gorgeous scarves to the winner as a FREE Thank You gift!  It could be YOU!

Thank you for participating in this give-away and helping me promote Muse Silk Paintings.  With just a few clicks, one of these hand painted scarves could be in your hot little hands soon!

Transitions Collection

In celebration of this special day, first day of the Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit), I am delighted to announce my first new Collection of 2011!  The year of the Rabbit promises that good taste and refinement will shine on everything.  It is also the year of recovery, and time to focus on relationships, home and family.  Translation:  Let's dress up and enjoy each others company!

This past year, I have faced many challenges, however I've just reached a major milestone and  I'm looking forward to moving towards balance, peace, and artistic growth.  This year will be about transitioning from dark to light, frustration to exhilaration, chaos to balance, and stagnation to fluidity.  My new Transitions Collection is inspired by this internal growth and optimism from unexpected changes in my life. 

Each hand painted scarf has gradating color variations wavering fluidly down the silk and topped off with glimmering metallic accents.  They whisper a similarity to a sliced gemstone or agate where you can see the layers have built up over time.  This collection is symbolic as each color transitions into dark, light, and unexpected hues...representing the process of change while the shimmering slivers add that extra sparkle of celebration and illustrate the beautiful notion of new horizons.

I am so inspired by this concept, that I asked my good friend Nancy to create a poem for the occasion!

"Gemstones build layers over time, before we see the glow,
 Bits of golden, dappled as sunlight, so lovely to behold.
 With gently layered hues painting stories of our lives
 Soft and bright rising out of dark and stormy skies
 Light for joy, dark for toil, moments from which to grow
 Transitioning so gracefully, planting hopes and dreams to sow"
- Nancy Beegle

A Transitions Collection scarf is the perfect accessory for traveling, easily transitioning from Day to Night,  and has such a range of colors that can be worn for Spring or Fall... or really any time of year.  Own a piece of this amazing moment and treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind scarf from Muse Silk Paintings.  SHOP the Transitions Collection TODAY!